Austin & Stoltenberg – NATO Future Needs Higher Spending Budget

June 3, 2022

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III continued conversations with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
spending 2% of the gross domestic product of NATO members on defense is a floor amount and not a ceiling
As NATO alliance faces challenges from Russia and alliance needed to agree on a new strategic concept for facing the challenges

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III hosts NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for talks at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., June 2, 2022. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

As NATO alliance faces challenges from Russia and alliance needed to agree on a new strategic concept for facing the challenges, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III continued conversations with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg was supposed to resign as NATO Secretary General at the June 28 summit in Madrid, but due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO nation leaders persuaded him to stay on for another year.

NEWS: @SecDef, Stoltenberg Discuss @NATO Future During Pentagon Meeting https://t.co/8NoZW2382l
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) June 2, 2022

Austin stated that he has spent much of his adult life around NATO and has never seen the organisation more energised and united. He highlighted that. The Russian invasion has changed the geopolitics, and defence commanders are considering a new strategic concept to boost deterrence and make the alliance more combat-ready.

Defence spending was also discussed. Speaking on sharing of defence budget between partner nation within NATO alliance, Secretary of Defense emphasised that spending 2% of the gross domestic product of NATO members on defense is a floor amount and not a ceiling. He said that It is important to increase the amount of common funds available to NATO so that it has the resources it requires to complete the responsibilities set by leaders.

I met with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg today to discuss the upcoming Madrid Summit. The U.S. and our Allies will strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defense and tackle new challenges, from cyber to climate change. pic.twitter.com/gZk0C0Xorg
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 2, 2022

Austin, Stoltenberg, and their staffs are gearing up for the NATO defence ministerial, which starts on June 14, and the NATO summit, which starts on June 28 in Madrid.

20220302-A-VU095-1057 – A U.S. Army Green Beret assigned to 10th Special Forces Group watches Latvian National Guard soldiers handle a mock anti-personnel mine before moving towards the objective during ambush training in the forests of Latvia, March 2, 2022. The bilateral training creates interoperability with NATO allies, improves military readiness, and strengthens joint confidence while promoting peace and stability within the region. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Hannah Hawkins)

Austin had already recognised and appreciated Stoltenberg for his leadership during this pivotal period. Austin stated at the start of the Pentagon meeting that this is his 21st meeting with Stoltenberg since taking office 16 months ago. The first call he made after entering office, according to the Secretary of Defense, was to the Secretary General.

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